I live on the outskirts of Sendai City in Japan. Despite being an area affected by a significant earthquake in March 2011, it is abundant in nature. The mountains I see on my daily walks change with the seasons, and I often spot many wild birds.

My journey in pottery began 25 years ago at Box Hill TAFE. Whilst Japan has a rich history and culture of pottery, I wanted to break away from tradition and explore creating pieces freely with clay. Pottery in Melbourne allowed me the freedom to truly enjoy the process. My theme revolves around the intelligence and resilience of plants. Plants produce flowers and seeds, and the shapes of their seed pods are fascinating. They employ various forms to ensure the survival of their offspring. I was particularly intrigued by Australian flora after learning how Eucalyptus plants utilise wildfires to propagate, further emphasising the resilience of plant life.

The technique I use for creating my pieces is quite simple.

I flat and stretch the clay into thin layers, apply a clay slip, and stick them together. The speed of joining varies with the temperature and humidity of the day.

The idea for this technique arose from a random event. One day, a friend was visiting my studio, so I quickly moved the clay scraps scattered on the floor onto a shelf. The clay got stepped on and pressed by my shoes, resulting in intriguing patterns, which became the inspiration for connecting thinly stretched clay to create my pieces.

I employ the same method when making sculptures or functional items like vases or mugs.